Is Albania Worth Visiting? My Honest Review for 2026

Albania is one of the hottest destinations in Europe right now. It’s massively growing in popularity and it seems everyone and their dog is flocking there on holiday.

I spent a week in Albania with my friend in September 2025, so this is a recent, honest account of what it’s currently like to visit, and its pros and cons.

If you’re wondering whether Albania lives up to the hype, how easy it is to get around, if it’s safe, and what to expect when you go, this guide will help you decide if Albania is worth visiting.

Luxury cabanas line a wooden deck over clear turquoise water, with people sunbathing beside the shore. In the background, small boats float near a lush green island under a clear blue sky.

What to expect when you visit Albania

Below I’ve listed the pros and cons of visiting Albania, so you know exactly what to expect before you visit.

Getting there

Getting to Albania is much easier than you might think. Albania’s main airport is Tirana International Airport, and you can fly direct from several UK airports.

From the US, you’ll need to stop in another European city, but it’s still a relatively easy journey from New York and even LA, usually with a direct flight to London and then a short onward journey to Tirana.

Pedestrian walkway flanked by leafy trees and vintage-style lamp posts leads toward hillside homes with white facades and red-tiled roofs. A fortress with a flag sits atop the rocky hill overlooking the town.

There’s also a new airport currently being built in Albania, which is due to open later this year and will be closer to the southern coast.

And you can also fly into Corfu in Greece, and take a one hour ferry to Ksamil.

So there’s plenty of options no matter where you’re coming from that make Albania an easy destination to reach.

Getting around Albania

I hired a car for my trip to Albania and I prepared myself for it to be chaos. I’d heard that the roads weren’t great and the driving style left a lot to be desired, but it was absolutely fine.

We drove from Tirana along the south coast, and then inland to Gjirokastër. The roads were all in good condition and easy to navigate, and we didn’t come across any reckless drivers.

➡️ I used Discover Cars to book my hire car in Albania. They compare the cost of different providers to find you the cheapest option for your trip.

That being said, the roads in northern Albania are worse than the ones in the south, mostly because it’s not as popular with tourists yet.

We took a day trip to the Shala River in the north, but we were picked up by a coach in Tirana so we weren’t driving ourselves, and I’m very glad we chose that option.

The closer we got to the river, the worse the road got. It was very narrow in some places with a lot of potholes, and I was grateful we had a local driving us.

So if you’re thinking about driving in the north of the country, the roads might be trickier, so I’d recommend doing some research beforehand.

Hospitality in Albania

People in Albania are so kind. Everywhere we went people wanted to help us, and it always felt genuine.

When I wasn’t feeling well one morning (it may or may not have been a hangover after a big night out in Gjirokastër), the hotel gave us a late check out free of charge.

I had a Premier Inn in the UK try to charge me £30 to check out just one hour later. So trust me when I say this is rare, and it was very much appreciated.

Clustered Ottoman-style white houses with brown-tiled roofs climb up the hillside in Berat, Albania, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The stacked windows and uniform architecture give the impression of “a city of a thousand windows” under clear blue skies.

Another time, a warning light came on in our hire car, and when we went to a garage to refuel, we asked a member of staff about it, and he helped us figure out the issue, and even filled the tyres up with air for us.

We felt such warm hospitality wherever we went, whether we were checking in to hotels, exploring the country on a guided tour, and especially when we sat down to dinner in the evenings.

It often felt as though we were dining in a family’s living room, they really wanted us to experience Albanian food and culture, and it was very touching.

Your money will (probably) go further

I wince when I read articles describing destinations as cheap, especially when it’s used as a hook for an Instagram video.

A country may feel more affordable for you if you’re travelling from the UK or the US, but for the locals living there, the reality is often very different.

But there’s no denying that in comparison to other European destinations like Italy and Greece, you’ll find Albania more affordable.

Even during peak season, you can get a nice hotel room in Tirana, Albania’s capital, for £20 per night. If you’re travelling to more remote parts of the country, expect to pay even less.

The beaches are beautiful

Albania is home to some seriously beautiful beaches. You’ve probably seen videos of Ksamil, on the Albanian riviera, being hailed the “Maldives of Europe”.

The sand here is bright white and the water is crystal clear and it’s a great location for a few days relaxing with a good book.

Private cabanas with red cushions and white canopies line wooden platforms over turquoise water, while swimmers and boats enjoy the bay under a bright blue sky.

Some parts are Instagram vs reality

As with anywhere, there are parts of Albania that look better online than in real life. Ksamil is a good example of this.

The beaches are beautiful, but the entire stretch of sand is dominated by beach clubs, and you’ll need to pay for a sun bed (usually around €10). It’s still a gorgeous spot, but it’s definitely not the Maldives.

There’s really diverse landscapes

Albania is a country that has something for everyone. There’s so much to do, whether you like lying on the beach or hiking through mountains.

In the north of the country you have the Albanian Alps, with their dramatic peaks and traditional mountain villages making a great spot for some epic walks.

There’s the Shala River, which is only accessible by boat and surrounded by lush green cliffs. It’s often referred to as the “Thailand of Europe” and having visited the Phi Phi islands in Thailand, I totally get the comparison!

A woman in a green outfit stands on a pebbled riverbank next to colorful wooden boats docked on clear water, surrounded by steep, forested mountains.

The Komani Lake and Shala River day trip is one of the most popular experiences in Albania and often sells out, especially in peak season, so it’s best to book in advance.

Then you have the Albanian Riviera, which is the stretch of coastline along the south of Albania. This is where Ksamil is, but there’s other towns like Himarë and Sarandë that are less crowded and arguably even more beautiful.

Himarë is a great location for a boat trip, I hired a private boat for the day but there’s lots of affordable group options too.

A secluded beach with a few people sitting under a pink umbrella is nestled at the base of dramatic rocky cliffs, with waves lapping against the shore.

And if you enjoy history, you’ll love exploring Albania’s charming cities, like Berat, Gjirokastër and Tirana. Berat and Gjirokastër are both UNESCO World Heritage sites, home to well preserved Ottoman-era old towns.

➡️ Read my guide to the best things to do in Albania to discover what else the country has to offer

Bustling cobbled street in a historic town lined with white stone buildings, hanging flower baskets, local shops, and crowds of tourists browsing souvenirs.

It’s not a luxury destination (yet)

Albania doesn’t have loads of luxury, 5* hotels. During my trip I mostly stayed in local guesthouses, and smaller, boutique hotels.

And the same goes for restaurants. They tend to be family-run, with local, homemade dishes. This is my preferred style of restaurants as I’m not a big fan of flashy aesthetics and mediocre food.

But if you enjoy a slice of luxury, it might not be for you just yet.

There’s a lot of building and development happening across the country at the moment, so I’m sure there’ll be more in the future.

Safety

Something I get asked a lot about my trip to Albania is whether it felt safe.

Albania’s had a turbulent history under a communist dictatorship, and it’s a destination that’s just starting to get more popular, so there’s not loads of information out there about it, so it can be difficult to gauge.

A large church with three domed towers sits in a quiet plaza at golden hour, with hillside homes and dense trees surrounding it in the background.

I travelled to Albania with my friend, and we were two women travelling alone. We both felt completely safe at all times. We met lots of solo travellers too, and they all said how safe they felt.

If you’re travelling to Albania alone, there are lots of day trips you can book so you’re always with a group of people and an expert guide.

And hostels are a great way to meet people who might be taking a similar route to you so you can travel together.

Proximity to other countries

Albania borders Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece, so if you want to do a longer road trip, it’s the perfect destination for easily visiting other countries.

I spent a week in Montenegro last year and absolutely loved it. It’s more developed than Albania, so if you want somewhere a little more “tourist ready” it’s a great next stop.

Food and drink

I absolutely loved all of the food I had in Albania. I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I enjoyed it a lot.

In the south it’s quite similar to Greek food as you’re very close to the border. Greek cuisine is some of my favourite in the world so I was very happy about that.

There’s a lot of grilled meats and fresh ingredients like peppers, tomatoes, good quality olive oil, dips and stuffed pastries and vegetables.

A decorative plate with two stuffed and baked vegetables topped with shredded cheese sits on a wooden table, next to a basket of bread and small dishes of dips.

Crowds

Despite its growing popularity, Albania was quieter than I was expecting. We often booked accommodation the same day, and never had any issues finding a room.

The majority of places we visited didn’t feel overrun with tourists, unlike Greece and Italy where you can’t move for the crowds in summer. Santorini, I’m looking at you.

The only place I found to be busy was Ksamil, which isn’t surprising considering it’s the most popular place in Albania.

➡️ Plan your trip to Albania with my one week itinerary, including where to stay, the best restaurants, how to get around, and things to do in each place

And a lot of the feeling of business there I think is more down to the beach clubs taking up every patch of sand. There’s no peaceful walks along the beach there, and only a small part of it is free to lie on.

Stone path leads up a hill past the whitewashed “Hotel Old Bazaar” building, with traditional Ottoman-style houses dotting the lush green hillside. A shaded outdoor café sits in the foreground under a canopy of trees.

It’s worth noting that we did visit Albania in September, so we weren’t there during the height of peak season. But even September in other European destinations is busy now, so I think it’s a fair comparison.

So, is Albania worth visiting?

If you couldn’t tell already, I think Albania is definitely worth visiting. And not only is it worth it, you should start planning your trip immediately.

It’s a beautiful country, with so much to explore, and now is the perfect time to go before it gets even more popular.